So I have some things to return to the library and I’ll be looking for some new books to check out. Anyone have any suggestions for me? (I seem to remember someone else asking for book recommendations but I can’t find the thread.)
Some of my favorite authors are (in no particular order)
[list]
[li]Sue Grafton[/li]
[li]C.S. Lewis[/li]
[li]Janet Evanovich (but only the Stephanie Plum series)[/li]
[li]Stephen White[/li]
[li]Billie Letts[/li]
[li]Max Lucado[/li]Titles? Authors? Bring 'em on!
William S. Burroughs: The Cities of the Red Night
Robert Anton Wilson: Masks of the Illuminati, Illuminatus! Trilogy, Shrödinger’s Cat
Douglas Adams: The Hitch-Hicker`s Guide to the Galaxy (trilogy in five parts), Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Long Dard Teatime of the Soul
There are many others, but these are what comes to mind first…
Just about anything by Terry Pratchett brings a big grin to my face, which is helpful for these stressful times.
Arundhati Roy – The God of Small Things
Dorothy Dunnett – The Game of Kings or Niccolo Rising (each book first in a series)
Austin Tappan Wright – Islandia
P.D. James – A Taste for Death, Devices & Desires
Ursula K. LeGuin – The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed
Storm Constantine – the Wraethhu trilogy, Stalking Tender Prey
‘Story of My Life’ by Jay McInerny. Stunningly funny, but very easy to read and it’s also quite short - so if you don’t like it you won’t have wasted a lot of time.
‘Walking On Glass’ by Iain Banks. Quite unlike any other novel ever written. Contains a wonderful surprise which must equate to any man’s worst nightmare. And, no, I haven’t spoiled anything by telling you that.
‘In Cold Blood’ by Truman Capote. A ‘non-fiction novel’ concerning a murder case. I’ve never known anyone read this and not agree it’s extremely well-written.
‘Good as Gold’ by Joseph Heller. The oft-overlooked third Heller opus, after Catch-22 and Something Happened. Much shorter and more accessible than anything else he ever wrote, with some fantastic jokes, characters and situations, plus a very clever structure which will surprise and delight you when you realise what Heller is doing. Again, not a spoiler.
‘The Gun Seller’ by Hugh Laurie. Very funny novel indeed, not as widely recognised as it should be. Terrific plot, great pace, loads of good ideas stirred into the mix, and more good laughs per page than many similar efforts.
Try some Tom Robbins. My favorites are: Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas, Skinny Legs and All, Still Life With Woodpecker, and Jitterbug Perfume. His stuff is delightful, daffy, and more than a little thought-provoking. If he became a cult leader, I would consider the acolyte angle.
This is terrific - I can’t wait to go to the library in the morning!